Should the 19th amendment, which gave women in the United States the right to vote, be repealed? A growing movement of American evangelicals think so.
For example, in recent months, Doug Wilson, a controversial pastor based in Moscow, Idaho, and co-founder of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches, has sparked strong disagreement within American evangelicalism with his stance on household voting and the repeal of the 19th Amendment.
Wilson has been involved in several controversies, including his perspectives on Southern slavery, particularly after co-authoring the plagiarized 1996 booklet Southern Slavery as It Was with Steve Wilkins. The booklet sparked intense debate, with critics accusing Wilson of downplaying the brutality of slavery and defending the right of Christians to own slaves, citing biblical grounds for their argument. Wilson’s defenders argue he was trying to highlight the complexities of the issue, but many have criticized his views as insensitive and revisionist.
Lee Enochs
Wilson also has been a key figure in the Federal Vision movement, which has been criticized by some for espousing an unorthodox view of the evangelical doctrine of justification by faith alone.
Additionally, Wilson has claimed to be a “Christian nationalist” and has made several statements that have sparked debate and criticism, showcasing his unapologetic and sometimes provocative style.
However, despite these many controversies, Wilson remains a respected figure within certain conservative Christian circles and is now making very controversial statements on women’s suffrage and the 19th Amendment.
Wilson advocates for a patriarchal system where the male head of the household casts a single vote for his family, effectively disenfranchising women unless they are the head of their household. This perspective is rooted in his interpretation of biblical teachings on family and authority.
Wilson’s views on women’s suffrage are clear: He believes the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote, was a bad idea. In his opinion, granting women the right to vote stemmed from Americans embracing “the lie of individualism” that hurts the institution of families.
He argues forcefully that when women were granted the right to vote, the nation took away the franchise from families. Wilson’s supporters, including current Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, have reposted videos and expressed similar sentiments, sparking concerns about the erosion of women’s suffrage.
“The concept of household voting raises significant concerns about women’s agency and autonomy.”
The concept of household voting raises significant concerns about women’s agency and autonomy. By denying women the right to vote, Wilson’s household voting model undermines their ability to participate in the democratic process and have their interests represented.
This male-dominated perspective neglects the diversity of family structures and the capacity of women to participate in the electoral process. The debate around repealing the 19th Amendment also brings up discussions about constitutional originalism, a legal philosophy that emphasizes interpreting the Constitution in its original context.
Proponents like the late legal scholars Robert Bork and Antonin Scalia argue the Constitution’s meaning should be grounded in its historical context. However, applying originalism consistently raises questions about the implications for modern society.
Doug Wilson
Many of the Constitution’s framers owned slaves, which highlights the difficulties involved in constitutional originalism. This historical context underscores the need for a nuanced approach to constitutional interpretation. Repealing the 19th Amendment would require careful consideration of its potential impact on American society and the rights of various groups.
Repealing the 19th Amendment likely would have significant consequences, including the disenfranchisement of women and perpetuating patriarchal power structures, limiting women’s voices in policy decisions.
Wilson’s view on repealing the 19th Amendment clearly would be a regressive step for Americans and would undermine decades of progress for women’s rights and gender equality.
While Wilson’s views on politics and Christian theology have gained traction in certain segments of American evangelicalism, many of his views are retrogressive and should be rejected outright.
Those who are tempted to follow Wilson in his strident views on the negation of women’s rights would do well to heed the Pauline injunction to “reject strife and unnecessary quarrels (1 Corinthians 3:1-4), and to “examine everything carefully, hold fast to the truth” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
While constitutional originalism provides one framework for interpreting the Constitution, it should not be the sole factor in determining the veracity of Doug Wilson’s views on the 19th Amendment. The complexities of historical context, the progression of societal norms and the potential consequences of repeal must be carefully considered.
Ultimately, protecting women’s suffrage and promoting equality and justice in American governance should guide our decision-making process. For these reasons and many more, Doug Wilson and his followers’ patriarchal views on the abrogation of women’s rights and the repeal of the 19th Amendment should be rejected outright and in total.
Lee Enochs is a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Gateway Seminary and the University of North Texas. He also hosts a weekly radio station podcast for KNTU radio.
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